Excerpt from Madame Sosostris and the Festival for the Brokenhearted by Ben Okri, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"Beatrice, I think you'll like my idea. What do you think causes the greatest unhappiness in people?"

"More fundamental than that."

"Climate change?"

"Too frightening to be the cause of everyday unhappiness."

"You're right there. I can't contemplate the enormity of it. Much easier to have another gin and tonic."

"How environmentally irresponsible of you," said Viv. "My god-daughter says the root of climate change is in human history. It's caused by our greed, our desire for more than we need, for dominating others. She says humanity is doomed because we in the West will never give up our advantages."

"She sounds terrifying."

"She is. But so's the world we find ourselves in right now."

"That's why I reach for a cocktail."

"You said a gin and tonic a minute ago."

"A stronger drink for a stronger avoidance."

"So you do know you're avoiding the issue?"

"Isn't everyone?"

"Everyone except my goddaughter. What was the original question?"

"I've forgotten. You distracted me."

"What's the greatest obstacle to human happiness?"

"The happiest people I know are the poorest."

"Only a sociopath needs power to be happy."

"I give up. What then?"

"The loss of love."

"Where's this leading?"

"To a festival for people who have had their hearts cracked."

"What on earth do you mean?"

"I'm thinking of a festival where people lose their inhibitions and reveal themselves. Get over their heartbreak and start to love all over again. Wouldn't it be great if we could free ourselves from our pasts and become new people, change our lives and find true happiness?"

"That's a lot to take in. It's a bit mad. Have you told Alan about it yet?"

"I thought you told him everything?"

"I do and I don't. He already disapproves of my interest in yoga. What he calls New Age Stuff. Not sure I can take another suppressed sneer just yet."

"Surely he'd support you."

"Publicly, yes."

"Not privately?"

"He wouldn't be exactly scathing, but he'd have that look he puts on when he's not saying what he really thinks. That's enough to finish the idea off. I'll nurse it first and when it's ready break it to him gently."

"You should have more faith in him."

"You're right, I should. Faith is a tricky thing. Self-interest is more dependable."

"Appeal to his self-interest then. I'm sure he can find a way to make money from the festival."

"You're right. And we haven't worked together on a project for a long time. Used to do that a lot. It's what brought us together, you know."

"Was it? I thought you'd been together since birth."

"It just feels that way. We were both raising money to restore the stained-glass windows in the village church. We met at the fête. He was funny and considerate back then. That was before I was in the House of Lords."

"You make it sound as if you being in the House of Lords has made him less funny and considerate."

"Maybe the House has that effect."

"Then maybe this project is what you two need. I'm sure it'll cheer up all kinds of people. Let me know if it goes anywhere. Stephen's expecting me for lunch. You know how impatient he gets."

"Does he? I never notice. He's always patient with me. How's the magazine doing these days?"

Beatrice got up from her seat.

"Stephen just mutters about it. It would take a magician to work out what's going on in his mind. He gets more folded as he gets older."

"Not literally folded?"

"That would be easier to deal with. I mean his mind is folded. I can't read him."

"Maybe you two need a project as well."

"A project would finish us off. What we need is distraction. That's why I think this festival is such a good idea. We all need distraction. Something we can feel good about. Anyway, must dash. Stephen is never more caustic than when I'm late."

Excerpted from Madame Sosostris and the Festival for the Brokenhearted by Ben Okri. Copyright © 2025 by Ben Okri. Excerpted by permission of Other Press. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.